- Eight of Brighton’s last nine games have featured at least four goals 
- Both teams have scored in 12 of Brighton’s last 13 matches 
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals

Both Marseille and Brighton were involved in pulsating openers to their Europa League group campaign and we should expect more of the same when they meet at the Stade Velodrome on Thursday.

The Seagulls need to pick themselves up not only from a 3-2 home defeat to AEK Athens in this competition, but also the 6-1 thrashing they got at Aston Villa on Saturday. Meanwhile, new Marseille manager Gennaro Gattuso has work to do on a leaky defence.

Team news

Marseille will still be without Pedro Ruiz as he recovers from a long-term knee injury, while Geoffrey Kondogbia and Ismaila Sarr missed the weekend 3-2 defeat at Monaco and are rated doubtful again.

Brighton’s Julio Enciso is still fighting his way back form a knee injury, but manager Roberto De Zerbi will be hopeful James Milner, Pascal Gross and Adam Lallana will all be available after the experienced trio missed the defeat at Aston Villa.

The stats

Eight of Brighton’s last nine games have featured at least four goals.

Marseille have won two of their 10 league and cup matches this season.

Brighton have failed to score in just one of their last 18 league and cup games.

Both teams have scored in 12 of Brighton’s last 13 matches.

Marseille have conceded 10 goals in their last three games.

The home side have failed to score in just one of their last 11 league and cup games at the Stade Velodrome.

Prediction

Brighton had a thrilling introduction to European football against AEK Athens, but they suffered a 3-2 home defeat on their Europa League debut and that should mean the Seagulls go on the front foot in Marseille.

It seems difficult for Roberto De Zerbi’s team to play in any other manner as their matches have been packed full of goals this year and this meeting looks set to follow a similar pattern.

Gennaro Gattuso has recently taken the helm at Marseille in what has been a disappointing season so far and solving defensive issues should be high on the agenda.

They were involved in their own classic on matchday one when they drew at another big name struggling this season, Ajax, but they have since lost 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain and fallen to a 3-2 defeat at Monaco.

That should give Brighton heart but, as they showed in a 6-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday, they can be a difficult team to back with confidence.

However, there should be goals in this one, with over 3.5 looking a good shout.

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